The Globe & Mail: “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report”

The Globe & Mail: “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report”

In an article entitled “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report” for The Globe & Mail, Steven Chase wrote about Russia evading sanctions imposed by Canada for its invasion of Ukraine through Central Asia. According to the World Liberty Congress, an alliance of pro-democracy activists from authoritarian countries co-founded in 2022 by the […]

”Bitcoin is borderless” Conference — how to combat financial exclusion worldwide?

”Bitcoin is borderless” Conference — how to combat financial exclusion worldwide?

Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), participated in the Bitcoin Amsterdam Conference, which took place from 12 to 14 October 2023. During the panel discussion at the conference Bitcoin is borderless, she shared her story of how Bitcoin allowed her to fight for human rights, help Ukraine during the war, and deal […]

Russia’s Decade-Long War Against Ukraine: How to Accelerate Ukrainian Victory

Russia’s Decade-Long War Against Ukraine: How to Accelerate Ukrainian Victory

Executive Summary This report is the sixth in a series of reports on how Russia circumvents sanctions with the help of Central Asian countries, particularly by way of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The subject of this report is an analysis of global trends and facts that point to Russia’s ability to accumulate sufficient resources for at […]

Showing Humanitarian Face of Bitcoin at Central Bankers’ Forum

Showing Humanitarian Face of Bitcoin at Central Bankers’ Forum

The Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) was invited to the May 2023 Digital Currency Conference (DCC) in Mexico City, a high-profile gathering for central bankers, bankers, and the financial services industry, to discuss the role of digital currency in times of crisis and humanitarian aid. ODF’s Chief Advocacy Officer, Katarzyna Szczypska, argued in her closing keynote […]

Russia’s Accomplices in the War Against Ukraine: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Army’s Reliable Rear

Russia’s Accomplices in the War Against Ukraine: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Army’s Reliable Rear

Executive summary To analyse Kyrgyzstan’s capacity to help Russia circumvent sanctions, it is important to consider the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan under President Sadyr Japarov. Kyrgyzstan has long been considered an “island of freedom” in Central Asia, with a number of independent media outlets, independent MPs and an active civil society. However, the authoritarian […]

The Beneficiaries of Russia’s War Against Ukraine. How the Nazarbayev-Tokayev Regime is Helping Putin

The Beneficiaries of Russia’s War Against Ukraine. How the Nazarbayev-Tokayev Regime is Helping Putin

Executive summary In 2022 and 2023, the Kazakhstani authorities have repeatedly convinced the international community of their alleged commitment to “preventing the use of the Kazakhstani territory to bypass sanctions”. “Appropriate measures” have been adopted (such as the creation of a “list of sanctioned goods”, the signing of a law “on the control of specific […]

Italian legislators: stop and prevent the abuse of AML/CFT laws by dictators

Italian legislators: stop and prevent the abuse of AML/CFT laws by dictators

On 17 and 18 April 2023, a delegation led by the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) conducted an advocacy mission to Rome to raise awareness on the abuse of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules perpetrated by authoritarian regimes as a tool for transnational repression, and to expose how Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan […]

The Secret of Tokayev and Putin: How to Circumvent the Oil Embargo

The Secret of Tokayev and Putin: How to Circumvent the Oil Embargo

1. Introduction Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Kazakhstani authorities has repeatedly declared its “respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” [1], [2], [3]. Kazakhstani officials try to assure Ukraine and the international community that Kazakhstan is “complying with the sanctions” against Russia, although it is not “joining them“. In practice, the […]

Kremlin’s Secret Ally. How Tokayev is Helping Putin Circumvent Sanctions

Kremlin’s Secret Ally. How Tokayev is Helping Putin Circumvent Sanctions

1. Introduction After Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kazakhstani authorities stated that Kazakhstan “respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine” and “has not and will not recognise both the situation with Crimea and the situation with Donbass” [1], [2]. In June 2022, President Tokayev declared non-recognition of the so-called “LPR” […]

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